View Poll Results: Do you guys downshift when decelerating?
Yes, all the time.
232
22.92%
Yeah, most of the time
355
35.08%
Nope, once in awhile though
355
35.08%
Never
70
6.92%
Voters: 1012. You may not vote on this poll
Downshifting
Eh, most of the time I slow down as much as possible in the gear I'm in and then just put it in neutral because I'm lazy. A lot of people don't know how to rev match properly, especially when downshifting, so practice on a car with a shitty clutch, not a big money aftermarket clutch.
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
i was told that rev matching is way better then just letting off the clutch slowely or easing off it... i heard that it saves your clutch... and i heard that it is just less wear and tear on the tranny itself... correct me if im wrong... i rev match to down shift once in a while to slow down or to get into a lower gear to race..
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 647
Likes: 1
From: new iberia la.
if done properly, you should do both, thats why i have a sports car with a manual tranny, by using both your causing less wear on each,if you dont do both, you dont have a proper view, understanding, about many, many, many things.
Last edited by metalmechanic; May 8, 2009 at 10:41 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
I've downshifted every vehicle iver owned always. It's just how I was tought to drive. In the cobra I certainly downshift all the time. To me its an issue of safety really. You never know when one of those oh **** moments are going to happen and I would hate to mash the gas and not get where I need to go because im too low in my rpm band for that particular gear. As a matter of fact, I try to NOT use my breaks as much as possible and rely on engine breaking for most slowing down situations. I've never had eccessive wear or issues on any of my manual vehicles (probably 150K+ total miles driven). Just my 2 cents.
i was told that rev matching is way better then just letting off the clutch slowely or easing off it... i heard that it saves your clutch... and i heard that it is just less wear and tear on the tranny itself... correct me if im wrong... i rev match to down shift once in a while to slow down or to get into a lower gear to race..
i only down shift if i need to stop really fast. but i dont like to downshift. i would rather use the brakes and save the trans and engine from any extra wear. becuase god knows it gets the hell kick out of it as is. that and brakes are so much cheaper to fix than a trans and engine LOL
and for you that do it to show off you need a life LOL i let my turbos do the talking
just playing guys LOL
and for you that do it to show off you need a life LOL i let my turbos do the talking
just playing guys LOL
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TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 531
Likes: 0
From: Pocatello Idaho
I always downshift. I have a 97 and a 99. My 97 has 190K on it and I downshift every time I slow the car except when I am just coasting to a slower speed. Still the original factory clutch in my 97. I have heard downshifting causes wear, but I mostly think it is a blanket don't do it statement because we live in a society that relies on everything being done for them and therefore don't know how to use a manual. I downshifted with my first second third and fourth car and never wore out a clutch. More fun to hear anyway.
I downshift pretty often but just because I like the sound of my car 
Either that or I want to get it sideways coming out of a ccorner.
What about downshifting/upshifting without a clutch? Is that very bad on the trans? I occasionally do that too. I got good at it with my 98 v6 Camaro, and now it is just habbit. I can rev match pretty good so I never grind the gears.
Either that or I want to get it sideways coming out of a ccorner.What about downshifting/upshifting without a clutch? Is that very bad on the trans? I occasionally do that too. I got good at it with my 98 v6 Camaro, and now it is just habbit. I can rev match pretty good so I never grind the gears.
i hardly downshift, unless that gut feeling is there i may need the power, or i slow with the brakes untill around 1500rpm approaching a redlight, stopped traffic, etc and pop it into nuetral. then i watch the lights cycle, shift into 4th gear to stop the tranny from spinning and then go into first before going. i never sit at a light with the car in gear and the clutch pedal pushed in. hell, if i can sit at a light without my foot on the brake pedal i will...
i found brakes to be a lot easier to replace and lighter on the wallet instead of going through a clutch, and replacing it, cause i feel the need to grab every gear while downshifting to slow, or stop...
i found brakes to be a lot easier to replace and lighter on the wallet instead of going through a clutch, and replacing it, cause i feel the need to grab every gear while downshifting to slow, or stop...
Staging Lane
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Tx
down shifting without rev matching is just like reving it up and dumping the clutch, thats how i think about it as long as your pretty good at rev matching it shouldnt really hurt anything.
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
From: Waco, Tx/ Houston, Tx
